Page 144 of Brambles and Bellflowers
It’d been an hour since we’d left the Snallygaster—killing it for the umpteenth occasion. Titus had ripped off its limbs while Damen had done the beheading this time. However, if the pattern held, it would return to life again and continue to chase us.
At least it stayed dead longer each time we killed it.
On the downside, it was becoming harder to kill.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said, grabbing one of the bags. We still had to put some distance between the monster and us. That was the only way we had time to look for Bianca and Miles. We couldn’t afford to be distracted by the ugly beast.
“Have we heard anything more from the drama club?” I asked.
Damen glanced at me. “Who?”
“The idiots.” I frowned at him, and when he still looked confused, I added, “The two dunces and your moron of a brother.”
“Oh.” Damen pressed his mouth in a line. “No.”
Titus, however, was ignoring us as he looked at the sky. “I’m going to shift,” he said. “Maybe I’ll be able to hear something.”
“Don’t bother.” Damen sighed, cracking his neck. “I just sent Kasai and Kiania. If they couldn’t find her, then you won’t. Since she’s connected to Bianca, Kiania’s range reaches beyond your senses.”
“Not all of them,” Titus muttered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
I didn’t expect him to answer. However, when he turned his face from us, his neck turning red, the alarms in my head sounded.
“Titus…” I said slowly. Damen, who’d moved ahead, stopped and looked back at us. I ignored him, focusing on the dragon. “Just how are you attempting to track Bianca?”
The dragon’s shoulders squared, and his voice was tight. “I’ve never had a mate before.”
Wariness filled me. What was he hiding? “I know that—”
Damen was already analyzing the dragon’s behavior. “So, what’s changed?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Titus shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure it out…”
“Well—” Damen was relentless. “What is it?”
“I should talk to her about it first…” Titus wouldn’t meet our eyes.
My conscience tore between continuing this conversation or allowing Titus to keep his secrets. If it were something between them, prying would be an invasion. We’d all agreed to stay out of each other’s business.
But what if what he was hiding could help find them?
“Titus…” I started, but the dragon snapped.
“I can hear her inner dialogue!” He kicked at the dirt. “I know what she’s thinking. I don’t know why or how close we have to be. It only started after we got here.”
Damen gave the dragon a disapproving look. “And she doesn’t know?”
“When would I have been able to tell her?” he asked, waving his hand in a circle at the treetops.
I tapped my chin.
“What does she think about me?” Damen asked, not forgoing any opportunity to make everything about him.
I rolled my eyes and pushed past him.
“Ow, shit, Julian,” he protested. He stepped back and pressed a hand against where my arm had brushed his chest. “Are you sure you’re not trying to kill me?”
